Cosmic Ruler - Chapter 297

Chapter 297: Princess in Need IV

Aiden’s patience was unshakable. He had played the long game many times before. His rise in the previous world had been slow and methodical, and this would be no different. Rushing in with brute force was beneath him now. This was about control—about slipping into the power structures of this kingdom so seamlessly that, when he did rise, no one would see it coming until it was too late.

The sound of soft footsteps reached his ears. Aiden’s gaze flicked toward the far end of the plaza, where a figure emerged from the mist. She was dressed simply, though the elegance of her bearing could not be hidden. Princess Lirael Augustus Evaroria, heir to a dying throne, walked quietly toward the statue, her long, silver hair catching the moonlight like strands of silk. Her face was veiled, in the same fashion as the celestial statue, but even from a distance, Aiden could sense the sadness and helpless in her aura.

He observed her for a moment, hidden by the shadows, his eyes tracing her graceful movements. She moved with purpose, but there was a heaviness to her steps, the weight of a kingdom’s burdens pressing down on her shoulders. She stopped a few paces away from the statue, her head bowed slightly, as if seeking guidance from the celestial’s silent form.

Aiden remained motionless, waiting for the right moment. He needed her to notice him, but not yet. Timing was everything.

Lirael stood there for a long while, her thoughts seemingly far away. The mist thickened around her, creating an almost mystical scene. To anyone else, she would appear as an untouchable figure, lost in her world of royal duty and silent suffering. But Aiden saw through it all. He knew that beneath her composed exterior was a woman grasping for control, desperate to save her kingdom from the vultures circling overhead.

Finally, he stepped forward, his movements calm but unthreatening. The sound of his boots against the stone echoed softly in the stillness of the plaza. Lirael’s head turned slightly, her posture tense at the sound of someone approaching.

“Forgive my intrusion, Your Highness,” Aiden said, his voice smooth, with just the right amount of respect. “I did not mean to disturb you.”

Lirael hesitated, clearly wary of anyone approaching her in the dead of night. Her hand moved subtly toward a concealed blade at her waist, but she did not draw it. Her eyes, though veiled, were locked on him now, evaluating him.

“You are bold to approach me here,” she said, her voice calm but with an edge of suspicion. “Who are you?”

Aiden smiled faintly, bowing slightly as he introduced himself. “A traveler from afar, Your Highness. One who has heard much of the beauty of this city and the grace of its ruler. It seems the rumors did not do justice to the truth.”

Lirael’s grip on her blade relaxed slightly, though her posture remained guarded. “Flattery will get you nowhere, stranger. State your business.”

Aiden’s smile deepened. “Cautious and sharp, as expected,” he thought.

“My business, Your Highness, is merely to offer my assistance,” he said, his tone sincere. “I know your kingdom is struggling. The weight you carry must be unbearable. But I believe I can help lift that burden. I offer my services not as a noble seeking favor, but as someone who understands power and how to wield it.”

Lirael’s eyes narrowed, clearly not trusting him yet. “And why would you, a stranger, care about the fate of this kingdom?”

Aiden stepped closer, his voice dropping to a more intimate tone. “Because I see potential here, Princess. I see a kingdom worth saving, and a ruler worth following. But more than that, I see the future—one where you sit on the throne as its true queen, not as a figurehead, but as the one who controls its fate.”

Lirael’s breath hitched for a moment, the words clearly hitting their mark. For a long moment, she said nothing, her veiled face unreadable.

“You speak of things you do not know,” she said finally, though her voice had lost some of its edge.

“Perhaps,” Aiden replied smoothly. “But I think you know, deep down, that the path you’re on leads to ruin. The vultures around your father grow bolder every day, and soon, there will be nothing left of this kingdom to save.”

Lirael turned away from him, her gaze returning to the statue. “And what would you have me do? Kill them all? Take the throne by force?”

Aiden’s smile widened, though she couldn’t see it. “No, Your Highness. That’s the old way. Brutality has its place, but this… this requires finesse. You need allies, true allies. And I can be that for you.”

She was silent for a long time, the mist swirling around her like a shroud. Finally, she spoke again, her voice barely above a whisper. “What do you want in return?”

Aiden’s eyes sparkled with satisfaction as Princess Lirael asked the question he had been waiting for. “I want you, Princess,” he said smoothly. “I’ve traveled far and wide, but never have I met a woman like you.”

The silence that followed was tense, and he could sense the shift in her demeanor. Her eyes narrowed in displeasure beneath her veil.

“I may have fallen for you,” Aiden continued, though inwardly he smirked. ‘Of course, if I were to say I want your kingdom, you’d reject me outright. But now… you’ll want to know what makes me drawn to you,’ he thought, pressing on before she could respond.

“I know what you’re thinking,” he said, his tone more sincere, “but I truly have feelings for you.”

He noticed the displeasure that lingered behind her veil but continued, unbothered. “To prove my sincerity, I will lend you two of my most powerful servants. They are both formidable, and they will aid you.”

Lirael’s gaze hardened as she stared at him.

“Is this your true intention?” she asked coldly, crossing her arms. “To possess me? To claim me as one of your things?”

“Thing? That’s a harsh word, Princess,” Aiden replied smoothly. “I want you by my side, not as a possession, but as my queen.” His eyes never wavered as they locked onto hers, his ambition clear.